Applicator for liquids and semi-liquids



JaIL 24, 1967 P. J. VAN LOBEN sELs 3,299,854

APPLICATOR FOR LIQUIDS AND SEM-LIQUIDS Filed May .3, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 24, 1967 P. J. VAN LOBEN sl-:Ls 3,299,854

APPLICATOR FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMI-LIQUIDS Filed May 5, 1965 3 sheets-Sheet 2 JM ,Dn/EMM@ logre/f? @il WM 11085,/ 35ans,

@Hawley Jm- 24, 1967 P. J. VAN LOBEN sELs 3,299,854

APPLICATOR FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMI-LIQUIDS Filed May 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 140 36 jg@ jp@ 146 144 "42- j? 144 JZ'r 1372 142 rrom/EV.

(36 #fief/@M M United States Patent() 3,299,854 APPLICATGR FOR LIQUIDS AND SEMI-LIQUIDS Peter ll. Van Loben Sels, 11838 Cherrylee Drive, El Monte, Calif. 91732 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,711 12 Claims. (Cl. 118-411) The present invention relates generally to fluid dispensers; more particularly, the invention relates to an improved applicator for dispensing liquids and semiliquids-i e., viscous liquids.

Although the applic-ator of this invention is capable of dispensing various liquids and semi-liquids, the applicator has primary utility in carton forming and/or sealing machines for dispensing-glue onto the aps of cardboard cartons prior to folding of the flaps to their final positions. For this reason, the applicator will be disclosed in connection with this particular application thereof.

Forming machines for cardboard cartons are generally quite complex and vary widely in design and construction, depending upon the particular type of carton each machine is intended to produ-ce. All-carton forming machines of the type with which this invention is concerned, however, are similar to the extent that they embody glue applicators for dispensing stripes of glue onto the flaps of the cartons being formed, prior to folding of these aps to their final position. These glue applicators are commonly referred to in the trade as glue guns. During operation of such carton forming machines, the 'cartons being formed are successively transported past the glue applicators, or glue guns, vby a conveyor, in such manner that the unfolded flaps of each carton travel in glue striping relation to the applicat-ors. After each carton emerges from the applicators, the adhesively coated carton flaps are folded to their nal positions by means of so-called plows, or other ap folding devices.

Prior carton forming machines of this type are deficient for the reason that the glue applicators embodied therein are relatively complex. Moreover, the construction of the existing yglue applicators, or glue guns, is such that these applicators are generally required t-o be mounted in relatively inaccessible positions within the machines. As a consequence, the applicators are `dticult to install, service, and replace. For example, installation of many of the prior art glue applicators in existing carton forming machines requires partial disassembly of the machines, which is time consuming and costly to accomplish. Moreover, in some cases, such installation requires cutting or other destruction of various components of machines.

There is, accordingly, a definite need for an improved glue applicator for the purpose described. This invention `provides such an improved glue applicator. As noted earlier, however, the applicator of the invention is capable of dispensing liquids and semi-liquids other than glue.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved applicator f-or dispensing liquids and semi-liquids.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved liquid dispenser which has primary utility in carton forming machines for dispensing stripes of glue onto the flaps of cardboard cartons being formed prior -to folding of these flaps to their final positions.

An important object of this invention is to provide a glue applicator of the character described which is of unitary, self-c-ontained construction that permits installation of the applicator at any convenient location on a machine in which the applicator is to be utilized, where- ICC by the applicator is readily accessible for installation, servicing and removal when necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved applicator of the character described which is relatively simplied in construction, economical to manufacture, reliable in operation, easy to install and service, and is otherwise ideally suited to its intended purposes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l diagrammatically illustrates a gluing station of a carton forming machine embodying a number of the present improved glue applicators;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken at line 2-2 in FIGUREl; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a carton after emergence thereof from the gluing station of the carton y forming machine illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the present glue applicators embodied in the machine in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5 5 in 1 FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view, on a reduced scale, of the glue applicator of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a right hand side elevational view of the glue applicator of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken at line 8 8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective View of a floating glue dispensing head or shoe embodied in the appli- Cator;

FIGURE l() is `an enlarged sectional view taken at line 10-10 in FIGURE 6, showing the illustrated parts of the applicator in the normal positions which they occupy prior to movement of a carton flap past the applicator;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to the view of FIGURE 10, showing the illustrated parts of the applicator in the positions which they occupy during passage of the carton flap past the applicator; and

FIGURE 12 illustrates an alternative mode of assembling the applicator.

The machine 10 diagrammatically illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 of these drawings is designed to form lcard-board cartons of the type illustrated at 12 in FIG- URE 3. Carton 12 comprises bottom aps 14, side walls 16, cover aps 18, end walls 20, and upper and lower end flaps 22 and 24, respectively. In the course of fabrication of the carton 12, the latter is initially formed to the partially completed condition illustrated in FIGURE 3, wherein it will be observed that the end flaps 22 and 24 have not yet 'been folded to their tinal positions. The carton is completed by applying stripes 26 of glue to the upper surfaces of the upper end flaps 22 and to the lower surfaces of the lower end flaps 24, and then folding the upper and lower end flaps inwardly against the upper cover flaps 18 and bottom flaps 14, respectively, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, only three stations of the carton forming machine 10 have been illustrated, to wit, a flap opening station 2S, a gluing station 30, and a flap closing station 32. During passage of the carton 12 through the flap opening station 28, the carton is erected to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The end flaps 22 and 24 are then retained in the parallel positions shown and receive the glue stripes 26 during subsequent passage of the carton through the gluing station 3l?. During final passage of the carton through the flap closing station 32, the glue Coated end flaps are folded to their final positions to complete the carton. The carton is advanced through the stations 28, 30 and 32 by conveyor means (not sho-wn).

Within the gluing station 30, the fr-ame 34 of the carton forming machine 10 includes supporting members, or rails, 36 which slidably support the carton aps 22, 24 in their unfolded positions of FIGURE 3. The main lbody of the carton is supported in the region Ibetween the rails by the conveyor means, just referred to. Mounted on the frame 34 lat the gluing station a-re glue ,applicators, or glue guns, 38 which apply the glue stripes 26 to the carton aps 22, 24 as the carton travels through the gluing station. These glue applicators represent the major contribution of the present invention. One of the applicators will now be described in detail :by reference to FIGURES 4 through l2.

The illustrated glue applicator comprises a generally L-shaped mounting bracket 40 including a mounting flange 42 and W-ork hold down flange 44. The free edge portion of the hold down flange, remote from the mounting flange, is turned up to form a curved lip 46'. Mount ing means 48 are provided for securing the bracket 40 to the machine `frame 34 in the manner to be explained shortly. Suice it to say at this point that the mounting means 48 comprises the bar 50 which seats against the rear side of the mounting flange 42. The mounting 4bracket 40 is adjustably secured to the bar 50 by bolts 52 which extend through slots 54 in the mounting flange of the bracket and are threaded in the bar. Additional mounting bolts 56 extend through slots in the mounting flange and through the bar for attaching the applicator to the machine frame 34.

Located at the front side of the bracket mounting flange 42 is a glue dispenser assembly 58. This assembly includes a mounting means 60 which mounts the assembly on the mounting flange for movement relative to the mounting bracket 40. Mounting means 60 is equipped with a rock s'haft 62 including a polygonal central section 64 and cylindrical ends 66. Bolted to the front side of the bracket mounting flange 42 are bearings 68 in which the cylindrical rock shaft ends 66 are rotatably supported. The rock shaft 62 parallels the work hold down flange 44 of the mounting bracket 40.

Disposed in a plane normal to the rock shaft 62 is a dispenser supporting arm 70, one end of which is located adjacent the shaft. The latter end of the arm is secured to the rock shaft by an arm mounting bracket 72. Bracket 72 has a polygonal opening 74 slidably receiving the polygonal central section 64 of the rock shaft and an opening 76, at right angles to the opening 74, slidably receiving the supporting arm 70. A set screw 78 threaded in the arm mounting bracket releasably secures the latter to `the rock shaft 62. A second set screw 80 threaded in the bracket releasably secures the latter to the dispenser supporting arm 70. It is apparent at this point, therefore, that the entire dispenser assembly 58 may be adjusted along the rock shaft 62 by loosening the set screw 78. The assembly may be adjusted radially of the shaft by loosening the set screw 80.

At the outer end of the dispenser supporting arm 70 is a dispenser 82 proper. This dispenser includes a dispenser body 84 having a central axis 86. At the upper end of the body is an inlet 88 for connection to a supply of glue to be dispensed. In FIGURE 1, this glue supply is shown to be a tank 90. Glue tank 90 will be referred to shortly. Fastened to the lleft hand side of the dispenser body 84, as the latter is viewed in FIGURE 4, is a plate 92 lfrom which extends a threaded stub shaft 94. The axis of this stub shaft is normal to the body axis 86. Stub shaft 94 extends through an opening in the outer end of the dispenser supporting arm 70 normal to the longitudinal axis of the arm. Mounted on the stub shaft is a nut 96 for releasably securing the dispenser body to the dispenser lsupporting arm. The dispenser body 84 may be angularly adjusted relative to the arm, `about the axis of the stub shaft 94, by loosening the nut 96. Extending `axially into the lower end of the dispenser body 84'is a 'bore 100 which communicates with the upper glue inlet 88 on the body.

Dispenser 82 includes, in addition to the body 84, a dispenser head 102. This dispenser head has an elongate body 104 and a cylindrical stern 106 projecting from the upper surface of the latter body, midway between its ends. The axis of this stem is normal to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser head body 104. Stem 106 is rotatably fitted inthe bore 100 of the dispenser body 84. Straddling the lower end of the dispenser 'body is a generally IU-shaped spring clip 108. The arms of this clip fit in slots 110 cut through opposite sides of the body in a plane normal to the body axis 86 and engage in a circumferential groove 112 in the stem 106 of the dispenser head 102. Clip 108 releasably and rotatably secures the head -to the dispenser body. The head is thus free to rotate relative to the body, on its axis 86, and may be released from the body by spreading the clip arms 108 to disengage these arms from the dispenser head stem groove 112. The stern 106 is sealed to the dispenser body 84, above the groove 112, by an O-ring 114.

Extending longitudinally through the body 104 of the dispenser head 102 is a manifold bore 116. This manifold bore communicates with the dispenser body bore 100 through a passage 118. The ends of the manifold bore 116 open through the ends of the dispenser head body 104 and are closed by removable plugs 118. These plugs may be removed to permit cleaning of the interior of the head. Extending transversely from the bore 116 are a multiplicity of dispensing ports 120. Dispensing ports 120 open through the lower, work engaging surface 122 of the `dispenser head.

The work engaging surface 122 of the dispenser head 102 faces, generally, in one endwise or axial direction of the dispenser body 84, i.e., in a downward direction in the applicator under consideration. This work engaging surface comprises a forward convex surface portion 124 and a rear at surface portion 126. The convex surface portion 124 is generally cylindrically curved about an axis of curvature extending lengthwise of the body 104 of the dispenser head 102 and normal to the dispenser body axis 86. This axis of curvature is approximately coincident with the axis of the manifold bore 116. The convex surface portion merges tangentially with the Hat surface portion 126 and with the opposite or forward side face 128 of the dispenser head.

As will appear presently, when an end flap 22 or 24 of the carton 12 travels past the applicator 38, i.e., flap 22 in the case of the applicator under consideration, the convex surface portion 124 of the dispenser head 102 engages the flap along a tangential line of contact which is designated by the reference numeral 130 in FIGURE 11. The flat surface portion 126 of the dispenser head is inclined toward the dispenser body 84 at an oblique angle relative to a plane tangent to the convex surface portion 124 along the contact line 130. The at surface portion 126, therefore, faces obliquely in one lateral direction of the dispenser head-ie., to the right or rear in FIGURES 10 and 11, and toward the mounting bracket 40. vAs will be explained presently this flat surface portion forms a camming surface which is engaged by each flap traveling past the applicator to cam the applicator out of the path of the flap. The dispensing ports in the dispenser head 102 open through the convex surface portion 124 in laterally or forwardly offset relation relative to a plane normal to the plane of tangency, just referred to, and containing the contact line 130.

At this point, it is evident that the mounting means 60 supports the dispenser 82 on the mounting bracket 40 for movement in a generally end-wise or axial direction of the dispenser body 84. Means are provided for urging the dispenser in the end-wise direction of the 'gluing station.

dispenser body in which the work engaging surface 122 ofthe dispenser head 102 faces, i.e., in the downward direction in the case of the applicator under consideration. These urging means comprise torsion springs 132 which are operatively connected between the mounting bracket and the rock shaft 62 in such manner as to urge the latter in the counter-clockwise direction, as the shaft is viewed in FIGURES 7 and 8. An adjustable stop screw 133 is provided to limit this rotation of the dispenser. v

Attached to the dispenser body 84 is a solenoid valve (not shown) for controlling the glue ow from the body inlet 88 to the dispensing ports 120 in the dispenser head 102. The coil of this solenoid valve is enclosed in a valve housing 134 mounted on the side of the'dispenser body 84 opposite the dispenser supporting arm 7 0.

Indicated at 136 is a second work hold down 136. Thishold down includes a metal bar 138. The lower end of the metal bar, as the latter is viewed in the drawings, is bent to the arcuate configuration shown to form a curved work engaging foot 140 on the hold down. The upper end of the hold down bar 138 is bent at generally right angles and in a direction kopposite to the yfoot 140. This bent upper end of the bar is secured to a mounting plate 142. Mounting plate 142 is adjustably attached to the mounting ilange 42 of the mounting bracket 40 by means of -bolt`s`144 which extend through slots 146 in the plate 142 and are threaded in the mounting ange 42. The under surface of the Work engaging foot 140 on the hold down 136 is disposed approximately in a common plane with the work contact line 130 of the dispenser head 102, when the latter occupies its dispensing position of FIGURE 1.1.

In FIGURE 4, the hold down l136 is located at the left end of the dispenser head 102. The bracket mounting ange 42 is provided with additional threaded openings 148 for receiving the hold down mounting bolts 144, thereby to permit the hold down 136 to .be mounted at the right end of the dispenser head 102, as the latter is viewed in FIGURE 12, as may be desirable in some applications. Also, of course, the hold down 136 may he left in the position illustrated and an additional hold down may be mounted at the right end of the dispenser head.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the two upper glue applicators 38 are mounted at the upper side of the upper flap supporting members or rails 36. The dispenser heads 102 of these applicators are located to engage the upper surfaces of the upper end aps 22 on the carton 12 as the latter travels through the gluing station. In this regard, it is to be noted that the upper flaps ride along the upper surfaces of the upper flap supporting rails 36. The lower glue applicatorsr38 are mounted below the lower ap supporting rails 36. The dispenser heads 102 of these latter applicators are located to engage the under surfaces of the lower end tiaps 24 of the carton 12 as the latter travels through the It should be noted here that these latter carton flaps ride along the under surfaces of the lower rails. Each of the applicators 38 is mounted in the same relationship to its respective flap supporting'rail. Accordingly, this relationship will be explained only in connection with one of the applicators, namely that illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 12. It is apparent that this latter applicator comprises one of the two upper applicators in FIGURE 1.

Returning, then, to FIGURES 4 through 12, and particularly to FIGURE 7, it wi-ll be observed that the applicator 38 is mounted on the machine lframe 34 yby inserting the mounting 'bolts 56 of the applicator through openings in a bracket 150 on the machine frame. Nuts 152 are then threaded on these mounting bolts to rmly clamp the bracket 150 `between the nuts and the applicator mounting bar 50. As shown in FIGURE 7, when the applicator 38 is thus installed on the machine frame 34, the hold down iianfge 44 of the applicator mounting bracket 40 is located in spaced parallel relation to the adjacent ap supporting rail 36. It is apparent from the eariler description that the spacing ibetween the rail 36 and the hold down flange `44 may be adjusted yby loosening the `bolts 52 which secure the bracket 40 to the applicator mounting bar 50 and shifting the mounting bracket toward or away from the rail. In actual practice, the spacing between the rail 36 and the 'bracket hold down ange 44 is made just slightly greater than the thickness of the carton flaps 22, 24. Thus, a carton flap 4may pass freely between the hold down ange 44 and the adjacent ap support-ing r-ail 36. The applicator springs 132, of course, urge the applicator dispenser 82 towand the adjacent rail.

Positioned in a cut-out in each flap supporting rail 36, in line with the dispenser head 102 of the adjacent applicator, is a trough 154 containing a wick 156. At one end of the trough 154 is a reservoir 158 to contain water for wetting the wick 156. Normally, the springs 132 of each glue applicator iurge the respective dispenser 82 toward the adjacent lflap supporting rail 36 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 10, wherein the convex portion 124 of the work engaging surface 122 of its dispenser head 102 seats against the adjacent wick 156 in the region of the dispensing ports 120 in the head. This Wick serves to collect any glue which may drain through the dispensing Iports after the passage of each carton to the gluing station. In addition, the water in the wicks serves to prevent the glue remaining in the dispensing ports from setting and thereby blocking these ports.

During operation of the container forming machine 10, each carton 12 formed by the machine travels through the gluing station 30 inthe direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1. This results in the movement of each carton flap 22 and 24 past its respective glue appl-icator 38 in a direction indicated by lthe arrows in FIG- URES 10 and 11. Thus, as each carton flap travels rst lbetween the work hold down ilange 44 of the applicator and the adjacent ap supporting rail 36, this flange serves to 'hold the ilap ilat against the rail. Eventually, the leading edge of the flap engages the oblique rear sur- 'face 126 on the dispenser head 102 of the respective applicator. This produces a camming action which urges the respective ydispenser assem-bly 58 away from the supporting rail 36, thereby enabling the ap to pass between the dispenser head 102 of the applicator and the rail, as illustrated in FIGURE 1l. The applicator springs 132, of course, retain the convex portion 124 of the work engaging surface 122 on the dispenser head in contact with the opposing surface of the ap. Referring again,

yfor the moment, to FIGURE 1, it will lbe observed that the glue tank is connected, through a conduit 160, to the glue inlets 188 of the several glue applicators 38. The tank receives air under pressure through an air line 162. The air pressure -in the tank forces the glue from the tank, through the conduit 160, to the applicators. Normally, the solenoid valves of these applicators are closed, whereby no glue flow occurs through the applicators. Mounted on the machine frame 34, in advance of the glue applicators, are switches 164 which are actuaated by a carton approaching the applicators. These switches are connected in circuit with solenoid valves in the applicators, in such manner that this actuation of the switches ener-gizes and thereby opens the valves.

Accordingly, as each carton flap 22 and 24 travels past the dispensing head 102 of its respective applicator, glue is dispensed through the applicator ports onto the opposing fiap surface. This produces the glue stripes 26 (FIGURE 3) on the lflaps. The applicator valves are then reclosed and remain closed until the valve switches 164 are operated lby the following carton. As noted earlier, after pasing through the gluing station 30, each carton enters the Iflap closing station 3-2, wherein the glue coated flaps of each carton are folded to their final 7 positions, thereby to adhesivefly bond the aps t one another an-d to the end walls of the respective carton.

Referring now more specifically to the operation of the -glue applicators 38 of the invention, 4it is apparent that the hold down flange 44 of each applicator bracket 40 serves to retain the corresponding flap 22 or 24 of each carton 16 against its supporting rail 36 as the flap approaches the applicator head 102. This assures proper engagement of the leading edge of the ap with the cam surface 126 of the applicator head and, thereby, proper camming of the head away from the rail to permit unrestricted movement of the flap 'between the head and rail. It is apparent that during this movement of the applicator head away from the rail, the applicator dispenser 82 swings about the axis of the rock shaft 62 as a center ,in such a way that the dispenser moves in a generally end-wise direction of the dispenser 'body 84. The applicator springs 132, of course, resiliently maintain the dispenser head 10.2 in continuous contact with the opposing surface of the flap to assure the proper application of the .glue stripes 26 to the flap even though the latter is Warped or as otherwise uneven. The hold down 136 serves to retain the fflap in contact with its supporting rail 36 in the immediate vicinity of the applicator head 102. This -hold down, obviously, will tend to atten o-ut a Warped flap as the ylatter travels past the applicator head. As noted earlier, the hold down 136 may -be mounted at the opposite end of the applicator head, if desired, or an additional hol-d down 136 may be mounted at the latter end of the head in order to assure more effective retention of the -ap in flat contact with its supporting rail in the immediate vicinity of the applicator head 102.

It will be recalled that the applicator head 102 of each dispenser 82 is freely rotatable relative to the dispenser body 84 about the body axis 86. As a consequence, the head tends to constantly align itself normal to the di- -rection of travel of the carton ap past the head. As discussed shortly, this rotatability of the head presents an additional advantage.

As noted earlier, and as shown in FIGURE 2, the two upper glue applicators 38 apply glue to the upper surfaces of the upper carton end flaps 22 and the two lower applicators apply glue to the lower surfaces of the lower carton end flaps 24. It will be recalled that the angle between the dispenser supporting arm 70 and the dispenser body axis 86 of each applicator may be adjusted by loosening the dispenser clamp nut 96. This angular adjustment of each dispenser obviously regulates the angle between the dispenser axis and the surface of a carton flap engaged by the dispenser head 102. According to the preferred practice of the invention, the dispenser 82 of each upper applicator 38 is set at such an angle relative to its supporting arm 70 that when its dispenser head 102 contacts an upper carton flap 22, the axes of the dispensing ports 120 in the head are inclined, in the direction of travel of the flap past the head, at an oblique angle relative to a plane normal to the ap and containing the line 130 of contact between the head and the flap, as shown in FIGURE 1l. When the dispenser is set at this angle, the dispensing ports 120 in the dispenser head 102 open into a narrow tapered gap, which may be readily observed in FIGURE 11, between the convex surface portion 124 of the head and the carton flap 22 engaged by the head. A small clearance is thereby provided between the trailing edge portion of each dispensing port 120, relative tothe direction of travel of the carton flap 24 past the port, and the opposing surface of the flap. Because of this clearance, each dispensing port is effective to apply a glue stripe of substantial thickness to the carton flap, as illustrated in FIGURE 11. It is apparent, of course, that the thickness of each glue stripe may be regulated by adjusting the angle between the dispenser axis 86 and the carton Hap.

While glue stripes 26 having a thickness on the order of that illustrated in FIGURE 11 may be satisfactorily applied to the upper surfaces of the upper carton end aps 22, the thickness of the glue stripes applied to the under surfaces of the lower carton end flaps 24 must be substantially less to prevent the glue of the latter glue stripes from dripping. To this end, the glue dispenser 82 of each lower glue applicator 38 is set at such an angle relative to its supporting arm 70 that when its dispenser head 102 engages a lower carton flap 24, the axes of the dispensing ports 120 in the head are substantially normal to the under surface of the flap. The portions of the lower applicator heads 102 trailing the dispensing ports 102 in these heads, therefore, effectively wipe the under surfaces of the lower carton flaps 24, whereby the lower applicators apply relatively thin glue stripes to these flaps.

It is apparent, of course, that when the applicator dispensers 82 are angularly adjusted in the manner explained above, it may be necessary also to longitudinally adjust the dispense-r supporting arms 70 relative to their respective supporting brackets 72 in order to provide the desired contact between the applicator heads 102 and the carton flaps. This adjustability of the dispenser supporting arms 70 and the glue dispensers 82, in combination with the earlier described adjustability of the applicator mounting brackets 40 permits the applicators 38 to accommodate carton flaps of various thicknesses. It is apparent that when the dispenser body axis 86 is set at an angle, the ends of the dispenser head 102 can rotate up and down relative to the adjacent supporting rail 36 to accommodate a warped carton ap.

In some applications, it may be desirable to reverse the dispenser assembly 58, as illustrated in FIGURE 12. This may be simply accomplished by loosening the set screw which secures the dispenser supporting arm 70 in its mounting bracket 72 and withdrawing the arm from the bracket, The dispenser assemblyl is then turned end for end and the dispenser head 102 is rotated through 180 relative to its dispenser body 84. Finally, the angle of the dispenser supporting arm 70 relative to the dispenser 82 is reversed and the arm is reinserted into its mounting bracket 72. This results in the reversed positioning of they dispenser assembly, illustrated in FIGURE 12.

It is significant to note that each of the glue applicators 38 comprises a unitary structure which may be mounted in any convenient location on a carton forming machine. As a consequence, each applicator may be mounted in a readily accessible position, wherein the applicator may be easily removed for cleaning or servicing, when desired. The labor time required to service and repair the applicator is thereby minimized. This saving of labor time is particularly important in a carton forming machine having a number of glue applicators, as does the carton forming machine illustrated in FIGURE 1.

As noted earlier, while the invention has been described in connection with the use of the present liquid applicator in a carton forming machine for dispensing glue stripes onto carton flaps, the applicator is not limited to this use. Thus, it is apparent that the present applicator may be employed to dispense any liquid or semi-liquid and may be used to apply such liquids and semi-liquids to various types of workpieces other than carton flaps.

Those versed in the art will appreciate that the present invention achieves the objects and realizes the advantages hereinbefore mentioned.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrate-d and described herein, it will be understood that the same is merely exemplary of presently preferred embodiments capable of attaining the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention is not limited thereto; variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention is entitled to the broadest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. A liquid applicator comprising:

a mounting bracket,

means for removably mounting said bracket on a supporting frame,

a liquid dispenser including a body having a central axis and an inlet for connection to a supply of liq- Iuid to be dispensed, and a dispensing head on one end of said body having a work engaging surface presented in one endwise direction of said body and liquid dispensing po'rts communicating with said inlet and opening through said surface, said dispensing head being elongated in a direction normal to said body axis and said body axis being located approximately midway between the ends of said head, i

sai'd dispensing ports being spaced along said head,

said head being rotatable on said axis relative to said body,

means mounting said dispenser on said bracket for movement in a generally end-Wise direction of said body, said mounting means including first adjustment means for angularly adjusting said dispenser relative to said bracket on an axis transverse to the direction of end-wise movement of Ysaid dispenser, second adjustment means for adjusting said dispenser relative to said bracket in a transverse direction of said latter axis, and third adjustment means for .adjusting said dispenser relative to said bracket in a direction parallel to said latter axis, and

.means for urging said dispenser in said one end-wise direction of said body. 2. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein: said last mentioned means comprises spring means acting between said bracket and dispenser. 3. An applicator according to claim 1 including:

y externally controllable valve means mounted on said dispenser for controlling liquid ow from said inlet to said dispensing ports.

y 4. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein:

said work engaging surface of said dispenser head includes a forward generally cylindrically curved convex surface portion centered on an axis of curvature normal to said body axis and a rear generally flat surface portion parallel to said axis `of curvature and merging tangentially with said convex surface portion, and

said dispensing ports opening through said convex surface portion,

5. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein:

said work engaging surface of said dispensing head includes a forward generally cylindrically curved convex surface portion centered on an axis of curvature normal to said body axis and a rear generally flat surface portion parallel to said axis of curvature and merging tangentially with said convex surface portion,

said dispensing ports opening through said convex surface portion,

the axis of said dispensing ports being inclined, in a forward directi-on of said dispenser head, at an oblique angle relative to a plane parallel to said body axis and containing said axis of curvature, and

said flat surface portion being located at the rear side of said plane and being inclined toward said dispenser body at an acute angle relative to a second plane tangent to said convex surface portion along a line located between said dispensing ports and the line of intersection of said rst plane with said work engaging surface, whereby said at surface portion forms a camming surface which is obliquely presented in the rear direction of said dispensing head.

6. A liquid applicator comprising:

a mounting bracket,

means for removably mounting said bracket on a supporting frame,

a liquid dispenser including a body having a central axis and an inlet for connection to a supply of liquid to be dispensed, and a dispensing head on one end of said body having a work engaging surface presented in one end-wise direction of said body and liquid dispensing ports communicating with said inlet and opening through said surface,

said dispenser head isl elongated in a direction normal to said body axis and said body axis is located approximately midway between the ends of said head,

said dispensing ports being spaced along said head,

and

said head being rotatable relative to said body on said body axis,

a dispenser supporting arrn,

means rotatably mounting one end of said arm on said bracket for swinging on a rotation axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said arm, said arm mounting means includes adjustment means for adjusting said arm and dispenser as a unit along said rotation axis,

means mounting said dispenser on the opposite end of said arm with said body axis disposed in the plane normal to said rotation axis and extending transversely of said arm axis whereby said dispenser is movable in a generally end-wise direction of said body, said dispenser mounting means includes adjustment means for angularly adjusting said dispenser relative to said supporting arm on an axis parallel to said rotation axis, and

means for urging said dispenser in said one end-wise direction of said body.

7. An applicator according to claim 6 wherein:

said arm mounting means comprises a rock shaft, means rotatably mounting said rock shaft on said bracket, and means securing said one end of said arm to said shaft, and l said urging means comprises spring means acting between said bracket and rock shaft.

8. An applicator according to claim 6 wherein:

an adjustable limit stop coacting between said arm and bracket for limiting movement of said dispenser relative to said bracket in said one end-wise direction of said dispenser body.

9. An applicator according to claim 6 including: valve means mounted on said dispenser for controlling liquid ow from said inlet to said dispensing ports.

10. An applicator according to claim 6 wherein:

said work engaging surface of said dispensing head includes a forward generally cylindrically curved convex surface portion centered on an axis of curvature normal to said body axis and a rear generally ilat surface portion parallel to said axis of curvature and merging t'angentially with said convex surface portion,

said dispensing ports opening through said convex surface portion,

the axes of said dispensing ports being inclined, in the forward lateral direction of said dispenser head, at an oblique angle relative to a plane parallel to said body laxis and containing said axis of curvature, and

said flat surface portion being located at the rear side of said plane and being inclined toward said dispenser body at an acute angle relative to a second plane tangent to said convex surface portion along a line located between said dispensing ports and the line of intersection of said first plane with said work engaging surface, whereby said flat surface portion forms a camming surface which is obliquely presented in the rear lateral direction of said head.

11. A liquid applicator comprising:

a generally L-shaped mounting bracket including a supporting ange having a front surface and a work hold down ange extending rearwardly from one edge of said supporting flange and having a work engaging surface disposed in a transverse plane of said front surface,

means for mounting said bracket on a supporting frame in -a position wherein said work engaging surface of said -hold down flange is disposed to engage one surface of a workpiece traveling in a forward direction relative to said bracket,

a rock shaft,

means rotatably supporting said rock shaft on said front surface of said supporting flange with the shaft axis generally parallel to and spaced from said plane of said work engaging surface,

a dispenser assembly including a supporting arm, an arm mounting bracket having Ia rst opening slidably receiving said rock shaft and a second opening normal to said first opening and slidably receiving one end of said arm, whereby said arm bracket is adjustable along s'aid shaft and said arm is longitudinally adjustable relative to said arm bracket, means adjustably securing said arm bracket to said shaft, means adjustably securing s'aid arm to said arm bracket, a dispenser -body having a central axis disposed in a plane normal to the axis of said rock shaft, means securing said body to the opposite end of said arm for angular adjustment of said body relative to said arm on an axis parallel to the axis of said rock shaft, said body having an axial bore opening through one end of the body, an elongate applicator head having a cylindrical stem intermediate its ends on an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said head, said stem being rotatably fitted in said body bore,'means rotatably securing said stem in said body bore, said head having on the side opposite said stem a work engaging surface presented in one end-wise direction of said body, said latter work engaging surface including a forward convex surface portion centered on an axis of curvature extending lengthwise of said applicator head and normal to said body axis and a rear flat surface portion parallel to said axis of curvature and merging tangentially with said convex surface portion, said head having dispensing ports spaced therealong and opening through said convex surface portion, `the axes of said dispensing ports being inclined, in the forward direction of said head, at an oblique angle relative to a plane parallel to said body axis and containing said axis of curvature, said fiat surface being inclined toward said dispenser kbody at an oblique angle relative to a plane tangent to said convex surface portion along a line located between said dispensing ports and the line of intersection of said rst plane with said line of work engaging surface, whereby said fiat surface forms a camming surface obliquely presented in the rear direction of said head, said dispenser body having an inlet communieating with said dispensing ports and adapted for connection to a supply of liquid `to be dispensed, and externally controllable valve means mounted on said dispenser body for controlling liquid flow fromv said inlet tovsaid ports, and

spring means connected between said rock shaft and said mounting bracket in a direction to resiliently urge said dispenser head in said one end-wise direction of said body.

12. The combination according to claim 11 including:

a water vimpregnated wick mounted on said member, Hush with said surface thereof, in a position toven-y gage said work engaging surface of said dispenser head in the region of said dispensing ports.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,316,937 9/1919 Brewster 118--323 2,5 59,225 7/ 1951 Ransburg 118-323 X 2,588,125 3/1952 Knowland et al. 11S-323 X 2,788,051 4/1957 lTuttle 118--415 X 3,088,433 5/1963 Walter et al.

MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID APPLICATOR COMPRISING: A MOUNTING BRACKET, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING SAID BRACKET ON A SUPPORTING FRAME, A LIQUID DISPENSER INCLUDING A BODY HAVING A CENTRAL AXIS AND AN INLET FOR CONNECTION TO A SUPPLY OF LIQUID TO BE DISPENSED, AND A DISPENSING HEAD ON ONE END OF SAID BODY HAVING A WORK ENGAGING SURFACE PRESENTED IN ONE ENDWISE DIRECTION OF SAID BODY AND LIQUID DISPENSING PORTS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET AND OPENING THROUGH SAID SURFACE, SAID DISPENSING HEAD BEING ELONGATED IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID BODY AXIS AND SAID BODY AXIS BEING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID HEAD, SAID DISPENSING PORTS BEING SPACED ALONG SAID HEAD, SAID HEAD BEING ROTATABLE ON SAID AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, MEANS MOUNTING SAID DISPENSER ON SID BRACKET FOR MOVEMENT IN A GENERALLY END-WISE DIRECTION OF SAID BODY, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ANGULARLY ADJUSTING SAID DISPENSER RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET ON AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF END-WISE MOVEMENT OF SAID DISPENSER, SECOND ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID DISPENSER RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET IN A TRANSVERSE DIRECTION OF SAID LATTER AXIS, AND THIRD ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID DISPENSER RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAID LATTER AXIS, AND MEANS FOR URGING SAID DISPENSER IN SAID ONE END-WISE DIRECTION OF SAID BODY. 